Today’s Friday Frock Love is the about the gorgeous own brand label at my sponsor, Pin Up Parade.
Helen launched Swagger Joint last year, but the problem with internet shopping is you can’t actually see, touch, and feel the quality of things. So she sent me one of the Avril dresses to see for myself.
I’m sending it back, so it’s not mine to keep, though me and my bank balance are having some quite intense discussions on the issue. I am seriously impressed with this dress!
The only way I can tell it’s not an actual vintage dress is from details like the nylon zip and overlocked seams. The quality really is fantastic, especially when you start looking at some of the tat on the High Street that they have the cheek to charge a similar price for!
This particular dress is really heavy, so it hangs beautifully. It’s made from a wool crêpe and is fully lined as well. I’m in between the sizes on the chart, so I went up a size, and it was actually a perfect fit and a really flattering cut on the bodice. Plus, look at the length! It’s actually calf length, not knee length or above the knee like so many dresses.
The Swagger Joint dresses go all the way up to a size 20 as well, and you can rely on the measurements on the Pin Up Parade site as Helen actually measures all the dresses and produces individual size charts for each one.
There are 2 other dresses in the Swagger Joint range at the moment. The Viv dress is a pencil dress with a velvet collar and the Esme is a matte satin circle dress with net underskirts.
The Viv and the Avril are both part of the price drop on Pin Up Parade dresses, while the Esme is actually in the sale section in sizes up to a 16 for just £30!
The Avril dress is gorgeous. Very flattering. Love it. Are you sure you can’t persuade your bank balance?
Beautiful dresses, but I think my bank balance would protest too much right now, even at £30. 🙁 x
What a beauty! It’s a pity that you don’t get to keep it.
Well it is always possible to earn more money but it is not very easy to come across a dress that makes you feel special 🙂 I say keep it.
Gorgeous dress – and also those shoes are a delight!
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha’penny
Oohh!! Now. That IS nice!!!! And it looks like it might be warm!
Really pretty stuff. I almost got rid of a very similar crepe dress, in black too. Tried selling it as I was moving back to the UK but decided to keep it as it’s too much of a gem to just sell already. I may see if I have an excuse to wear it this year, but if not, it’s got to go. This one looks lovely on you, makes that lovely shade of red in your hair really stand out 😉
Ohh I loove your dress and the shoes! 🙂
wish I had money to buy the avril dress :I
xx
The Avril dress is beautiful! It looks amazing on you too.
This dress looks fabulous.
Wonderful dresses! What fun!
Hi all,
Glad you like the Avril dress!
Gemma, you do look amazing in it. 🙂
The Viv and Avril dresses are both made in the UK, which is another reason why they’re quite expensive, but I think it’s worth it as the quality of manufacturing is fantastic, and heck, in these times it’s nice to be able to support the British fashion industry. Also, the wool crepe is quite possibly from British sheep as well – Scottish to be more exact! So there you are, a nice way to reduce your carbon footprint as well. I’m thinking of doing this dress in cotton for summer – will have to see….
Helen.
it’s lovely on you and nice to see repro dresses at the right length for the era that really is my pet hate!
Hehehehe, I thought of you when Gemma commented on the length! 😉